Switching From Senda Litoral to Central Route

[Joanne Yoong]

Dear fellow Camino members,

I'm in need of your expertise and advice. My friend and I will be walking the Senda Litoral route in September and I know we can change to the Braga way in Vila do Conde or at Caminha. Is there any other places where we can turn into the Braga way besides these two towns?

Thanks!

 

[jsalt]

Hi Joanne, do you mean only by walking? Because there are several places where you can hop on a bus. Do you want to go to the town of Braga? Or just get from the coast onto the Central Route? Can you explain a bit more about what your plans or intentions are?
Jill

 

[Joanne Yoong]

Hi Jill,

We are open to hopping on buses/taxis/trains...

So we plan to start in Porto and walk along the coast for a while, we were thinking of switching to the central route (no need to go to Braga) at Caminha... our destination is actually Vigo this time around and not SdC as we were there in 2016...

The thing is that it's a long way to Caminha and wanted to see more of the central route hence wondering if there's something between Vila do Conde and Caminha?

Grateful for your advice! Thanks!
Joanne

 

[Former member 22438]

The Caminho de Braga starts north of Porto and follows a different route than the coastal
You could walk as far as Viana do Castelo along the coast ,take the bus from there to Braga and walk the last leg from Braga to Ponte de Lima.
The connection from Caminha I do not understand unless you walk from there to Valença do Minho and walk back southwards to Ponte de Lima and Braga as shown on annexed pictures. But so you never arrive in Santiago.

 

[Former member 22438]

Hi Jill,

We are open to hopping on buses/taxis/trains...

So we plan to start in Porto and walk along the coast for a while, we were thinking of switching to the central route (no need to go to Braga) at Caminha... our destination is actually Vigo this time around and not SdC as we were there in 2016...

The thing is that it's a long way to Caminha and wanted to see more of the central route hence wondering if there's something between Vila do Conde and Caminha?

Grateful for your advice! Thanks!
Joanne

if you want to go to Vigo just cross the river Minho at Caminha and continue walking to A Guarda, Oia and Baiona before you will end up in Vigo
Switching in Caminho to the central route means that you will walk to Valença do Minho and than continue to O Porriño,and Redondela and than walk back to Vigo. To me it looks complicated .

 

[Joanne Yoong]

Can I walk from Tui to Vigo and not go to O Porriño,and Redondela?
Thanks!

 

[Former member 22438]

Yes and no. The first part from Valença/Tui (Tui is at the oposite bank of the Minho river connected by a beautiful bridge, built by George Eiffel. Don't know if he first built the horizontal bridge or the vertical Eiffel tower first ) Then you have to go direction o Porriñowhere you can choose a not waymarked path to Vigo.
Other option is to walk from Caminha to Vila Nova de Cerveira 15 kms. Cross the bridge there and walk back along the river bank to A Guarda and continue the coast. In that case I should cross the river Minho at Caminha by ferry or fisherman's boat as I did and continue following the coast to Vigo. Beautiful walk.
I did it before and do it partly (to Caminha from Porto) next april again

 

[jsalt]

Hi Joanne, you can download maps for free from this site:
http://www.caminador.es/
They are in Portuguese, but very easy to follow.
They might help you see what routes there are.
Jill

 

[jsalt]

The thing is that it's a long way to Caminha and wanted to see more of the central route hence wondering if there's something between Vila do Conde and Caminha?

You can get a bus from Esposende to Barcelos
https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Esposende/Barcelos
You can also get a bus from Viana do Castelo to Ponte de Lima
https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Viana-do-Castelo/Ponte-de-Lima
Jill

 

[Joanne Yoong]

Hi Joanne, you can download maps for free from this site:
http://www.caminador.es/
They are in Portuguese, but very easy to follow.
They might help you see what routes there are.
Jill

Thanks Jill!! Appreciate it

 

[Former member 22438]

Hi Joanne, you can download maps for free from this site:
http://www.caminador.es/
They are in Portuguese, but very easy to follow.
They might help you see what routes there are.
Jill

The language is Spanish

 

[Joanne Yoong]

The language is Spanish

Si, gracias

 

[andycohn]

We walked to Esposende last spring on the coastal route (one day's walk north of Vila do Conde), then hopped on a local bus over to Barcelos where we picked up the central route. Frequent buses. About 1/2 hour ride. My memory is that the schedule is better than is shown on rome2rio web site, so check at the bus station in Esposende, if you choose to do this.

 

[Former member 22438]

A nice option. Walk to Viana do Castelo , hop on the bus to Braga and get out in the village of Balugães and pick up the yellow waymarkers there on the central route.
After 4 km you will reach the best albergue of the entire Caminho Português, casa Fernanda in Vitorino dos Piães. You can't miss it. Her gardenpath is on the waymarked route. Bom caminho

 

[brambles]

A nice option. Walk to Viana do Castelo , hop on the bus to Braga and get out in the village of Balugães and pick up the yellow waymarkers there on the central route.
After 4 km you will reach the best albergue of the entire Caminho Português, casa Fernanda in Vitorino dos Piães. You can't miss it. Her gardenpath is on the waymarked route. Bom caminho

Hi Albertinho,

Would you please share details for this bus option? I was looking for a bus to Braga from Viana do Castelo and I find one that goes to Nine and then another bus to Braga. Do you know of one direct to Braga? (I think I might like to go there fist and then continue walking from Barcelos after Braga)

 

[Former member 22438]

There is a bus and also a train connection.
The bus From Viana changes in Balugães and the train in Barcelos to Braga

 

[Renascer]

Oi Albertinho onde eu posso pegar esse onibus de Barcelos para Braga? Vc sabe o numero ou nome do Ônibus? i would like to get a hotel close to the bus station. Thank you

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Oi Albertinho onde eu posso pegar esse onibus de Barcelos para Braga? Vc sabe o numero ou nome do Ônibus? i would like to get a hotel close to the bus station. Thank you

Isso deve te ajudar ...

Rome2rio

Descubra como chegar a qualquer lugar de avião, trem, ônibus, carro e barco

www.rome2rio.com

 

[Renascer]

Isso deve te ajudar ...

Rome2rio

Descubra como chegar a qualquer lugar de avião, trem, ônibus, carro e barco

www.rome2rio.com

Obrigado friend. Do you know if Barcelos and Barcelinhos are the same city?

 

[trecile]

Obrigado friend. Do you know if Barcelos and Barcelinhos are the same city?

Separate cities, but I'd say close enough to be considered the same.

Vilarinho - Barcelos | Camino Portugués Central | Gronze.com

Jornada radicalmente distinta a la de ayer; hoy avanzamos por zonas agrarias, a través de pistas de tierra o carreteras locales, cruzando numerosos núcleos rurales, con desniveles moderados y sin dificultades a reseñar, finalizando en la interesante localidad de Barcelos. Por otra parte, la...

www.gronze.com

 

[Renascer]

Separate cities, but I'd say close enough to be considered the same.

Vilarinho - Barcelos | Camino Portugués Central | Gronze.com

Jornada radicalmente distinta a la de ayer; hoy avanzamos por zonas agrarias, a través de pistas de tierra o carreteras locales, cruzando numerosos núcleos rurales, con desniveles moderados y sin dificultades a reseñar, finalizando en la interesante localidad de Barcelos. Por otra parte, la...

www.gronze.com

Oh that is very close. I thought was the same city. Thank you so much

 

[trecile]

Oh that is very close. I thought was the same city. Thank you so much

I enjoyed my stay in Barcelos. I don't really remember Barcelinhos. So decide where to stay depending on whether you like more populated places (Barcelos) or smaller places (Barcelinhos).
Though Barcelos really isn't that big. And there is a small museum there to visit and plenty of rooster statues!

The Rooster of Barcelos

Barcelos is an ancient Portuguese city from the 12th century, in Braga District in the Minho Province, in the north of Portugal and is part of one of the many Ways to Santiago used in Portugal.

portugal.com

 

[Renascer]

I enjoyed my stay in Barcelos. I don't really remember Barcelinhos. So decide where to stay depending on whether you like more populated places (Barcelos) or smaller places (Barcelinhos).
Though Barcelos really isn't that big. And there is a small museum there to visit and plenty of rooster statues!
View attachment 102616

The Rooster of Barcelos

Barcelos is an ancient Portuguese city from the 12th century, in Braga District in the Minho Province, in the north of Portugal and is part of one of the many Ways to Santiago used in Portugal.

portugal.com

You are getting me so curious! Cant wait! Thank you for the information.

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

You are getting me so curious! Cant wait! Thank you for the information.

It looks, from the expanded map, like Barcelinhos is the new suburb of the town just south of the river. My only visit to Barcelos, I came in on the train, and had to walk from the east into the center of the town. It looks as if you have to do the same, only walking south across the river.

It makes sense. Barcelos is a very old, very compact town and there likely wasn't room for a bus station in a more central location.

Bom caminho!

 

[Renascer]

It looks, from the expanded map, like Barcelinhos is the new suburb of the town just south of the river. My only visit to Barcelos, I came in on the train, and had to walk from the east into the center of the town. It looks as if you have to do the same, only walking south across the river.

It makes sense. Barcelos is a very old, very compact town and there likely wasn't room for a bus station in a more central location.

Bom caminho!

Yes makes sense. I was just avoiding not walking a long distance from hotel to station (back and forward) to take advantage of this extra time to spend in Braga instead. Very excited. I plan to sleep two nights in Barcelos so i can take the bus to spend one full day in Braga.

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

I was just avoiding not walking a long distance from hotel to station (back and forward) to take advantage of this extra time to spend in Braga instead.

In Portugal, taxis are always a good option, particularly since you speak Portuguese. They are very cheap!

 

[Renascer]

In Portugal, taxis are always a good option, particularly since you speak Portuguese. They are very cheap!

Oh i did not know that one too. I thought they were very expensive. Good to know that one too. Thank you.

 

[David Tallan]

Obrigado friend. Do you know if Barcelos and Barcelinhos are the same city?

I'm pretty sure they are separate, separated by a river. So they are only a short bridge apart.

When we walked through, we stayed in an albergue in Barcelinhos, operated by the Amigos da Montanha, but we spent most of our time in Barcelos.

 

[Former member 22438]

Isso deve te ajudar ...

Rome2rio

Descubra como chegar a qualquer lugar de avião, trem, ônibus, carro e barco

www.rome2rio.com

Desculpe. Não estive desde muito tempo neste forum.
há paragem de onibus em frente do hospital no centro de Barcelos.
outra maneira é apanhar o comboio . A estaçāo de Barcelos é fora do centro, um caminho de mais ou menos 15 minutos. Acho que você tem que mudar em Nine , uma cidade dentro de Barcelos e Braga.